Office device



J; H. HOTSON Dec. 13, 1938.

OFFICE DEVICE Filed July 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I lPilapiikan um Q.

INVENTOR;

pmw 111% BYW 27 ATTORNE Dec. 13, 1938. J H 'HOTSON 2,140,382

OFFICE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1955 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE 'TOR;

Dec. 13, 1938. H HOTSON 2,140,382

OFFICE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1935 3. Sheets-Sheet 3 'ATTORNEXTJ Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 25 Claims.

The invention relates to office appliances for the storage of stationery and office supplies in current use; and it particularly relates to that form of such device employing movable trays or compartments.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a convenient and eflioient container for stationery and office supplies, in which the same shall be kept in good condition and readily 1o. accessible; and which container shall utilize as completely as possible the available space within a desk drawer of any size, or the available space upon a desk or table top. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part set forth in the following specification, and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifically pointed out, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and structural characteristics and relative arrangements and combinations which will be hereinafter more fully described or which will be pointed out in the claims thereof.

With the above and other objects of the in ventionin view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in this speci- 30. fication.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a longitudinal side view of my invention, comprising a base provided with trays and other devices, and showing a form adapted to lie on top of a desk or table, but which may also by removal of the folding cover be used inside of a desk drawer;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same showing the folding cover in its lowered or closed position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the inside of the rear member of the folding cover;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the movable compartments;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one side of the rear- 45. ward portion of the front sliding base member hereinafter more particularly described;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a front or envelope tray forming part of my invention and showing an envelope in place therein;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a removable half-tray to be hereinafter more particularly described;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a removable paper stop or false tray back, showing the short form which extends half the width of a stationary tray;

Fig, 9 is a detail view of the long form of removable paper stop or false tray back which extends the entire width of a stationery tray;

Fig. 10 is an end View of either form of paper stop;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view in perspective of oneof the intermediate trays hereinafter more particularly described;

Fig. 12 is a top perspective view of a rear carbon paper tray;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the supporting base members, showing the stationary trays removed and the base collapsed for packing, and also showing in perspective an attached detachable half tray; and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged broken cross section taken on the line l4l4 of Fig. 1, the trays being removed.

In carrying my invention into effect in one of the embodiments thereof which has been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and description in this specificatiomit will be seen that there is provided a front base member 20, having longitudinal upturned flanges 2|, adapted to slide in and out of a rear base member 22 and between longitudinal upturned flanges 23 thereon, said flanges being designed to retain the lower ends of the trays from sidewise slipping. The tops of the flanges 23 are turned inward and downward as shown particularly at 24 of Figs. 13 and 14, in order to slidingly enclose the flanges 2! on the front base member 20. The base member as a whole may therefore be either collapsed for packing as shown in Fig. 13, or extended for use as shown in Fig. 1. It may also be extended further to accommodate additional trays. The flanges 2| and 23 are made purposely as low aspracticable consistent with the performance of their functions of engaging the front and rear base members together and retaining the lower ends of the trays, in order that a thin weight of metal may be used in constructing the base members without permitting a tendency to buckle. The rear base member is provided with rubber feet 25, and the front base member with rubber feet 26 adapted when the device is in use to support the same.

Extending upwardly and forwardly from the rear end of the rear base member 22 is a hood 2'5. This hood, when the device is placed in a desk drawer, is adapted to form together with the sides and rear of the drawer a compartment, and to prevent objects which may be placed therein from dropping upon the stationery trays. When any one of the removable trays hereinafterdescribed is raised for access to the tray next in front thereof, so that this raised tray and any rearward trays are no longer prevented from sliding by engagement of the parts 30, 64 and 65 as shown at the right of Fig. l and hereinafter described, the rearward tray and any others engaged therewith will be held by the hood 21 against rearward movement, as well as excessive upward movement which might disengage them or dislodge their contents, in a manner best understood by reference to Fig. 1.

The front end of the base member 20 is turned upward as shown at 28 (see Figs. 1 and 13). The lower parts of the ends of said upturned portion, which are adjacent the sides of a desk drawer when the device is placed therein, are vertical;

While the upper parts of said ends are inclined toward the center line of the drawer as will be seen in Fig. 13. The top portion of the upturned end 28 of the frontbase member 29 is bent upwardly and backwardly as shown at 29, to form a spacing portion which enlarges the compartment shown at 55 in Fig. 1 and also becomes the base of a compartment thereabove. At the extreme upward and rearward edge of said spacing portion 29 I provide a flange 30 adapted to support the front end of the foremost tray when the same is in place. When the device is used in a desk drawer the spacing portion permits the front tray or its contents to be grasped without catching the hand on the front wall of the drawer. If desired, the portions 28 and 29 may be provided with embossed areas 3| as shown in Fig. 13, in order to give them greater rigidity; and the portion 29 may be provided with a slot 32 which forms a receptacle in which a typewriter eraser or similar object may rest.

7 Removably attachable to the portion 28 is a half-tray compartment forming or enlarging member comprising at its upper and forward edge avertical flange 33 adapted to lie parallel with the front of a desk drawer and enlarge the existing compartment formed by 32 or with the front of the hinged cover and create a compartment together with 32. This half tray is shown in place in Fig. 1, while Fig. 7 is a front view of same detached. Extending backwardly and horizontally from the bottom of the flange 33 is a tray bottom 34. Extending downwardly from the rear edge of the bottom 34, is a hook bearing plate 35 provided with hooks 36 adapted to secure the half-tray in place over the inwardly inclined upper ends of the said portion 28. The plate 35 is also provided with a forwardly extending compensating ridge 31, the front edge of which lies substantially in the same vertical plane with the flange 33. If desired, the plate 35 may also be provided with right angled hooks adapted to engage the under side of the front base member 29. These are shown in Fig. '7 and numbered 69.

In using this portion of my invention, it should be noted that the front tray, which is shown in Fig. 6, is ordinarily adapted to contain envelopes, and may be made shorter than the other trays. If, however, this tray'should be used for writing paper or the like, clearance from the cover or from the front of a desk drawer will still be provided by the portion 29; and, if the half-tray is in place, additional clearance is provided by the bottom 34 thereof. If the half-tray is removed, the entire device may be shortened by the width of said bottom 34; while if it is in place, the bottom 34, together with the part 29, forms a tray adapted to receive pens or pencils and the like. If the device is used in a deck drawer, and envelopes or similar objects are stored in the drawer in front of the flange 33, they will be kept in a vertical and orderly position at the bottom by the compensating ridge 31, and. the insertion or removal of the half-tray may partly compensate for the removal or insertion of one of the paper trays if desired.

The hinged cover, which is provided for use with my device when the same is kept on a table or desk top, but which is omitted when the device is used inside of a desk drawer, is shown in its open position in Fig. 1 and in its closed position in Fig. 2. Fig, 3 shows a perspective View of the inside of the rear member thereof. This cover comprises a rear member 38, and a front member 39 adapted to slide longitudinally over the rear member 38, whereby when the cover is raised it may be collapsed into the position shown in Fig. 1, while in its closed position it may be extended as shown in Fig. 2, and adjusted to the length of the base. If desired, the front member 39 may be provided with slots 49 adapted to be engaged by lugs 4| on the rear member 38. Or the lower edges 42 of the front member 39 may be bent inward and then upward as shown at 99 (see Fig. 14), in order to hook over the lower edges 43 of the member 38, in the same manner as that in which the flanges 23 are hooked at 24 to engage with the flanges 2|. The rear cover member 38 may be hinged to the rear base member 22 in any suitable manner, such as the one shown, in which I provide a rod M3 secured in the member 38, and adapted to rest at its ends in bearing notches 44 in the flanges 23 of the rear base member 22, and to bear in its center portion against the bottom front of the hood 21. The rear cover member 38 is provided with feet 45 to support the same when the cover is opened, and the front cover member 39 is provided with feet 45 to support the cover when it is closed. The member 39 is also provided with a handle 41 whereby the cover can be manipulated. The rear cover member 38 may also be provided with an internal stationery pocket 48. 7

Located toward the rear of the front base member 20 are two upwardly projecting bosses 49 adapted to engage with two indentations 50 on a sliding member comprising a base a front 52 and a back 53. This sliding member is shown in operative position in Fig. 1 and 14; and in Fig. 13 the same is shown moved up to the front of the base for packing. Fig. 4 shows a detail perspective view of this sliding member, the same being turned left for right. If desired, this sliding member may also be provided with upturned end flanges 54 adapted to slide along within the flanges 2!, and the flanges 2! may in this case be hooked over to engage them, in the same manner as these flanges 2! are in turn engaged by the hooks 24, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14-. It will be understood that if this is done, the hooks 24 will of course require to be made somewhat larger than would otherwise be the case.

Referring now to Fig. 1, when the sliding memher is in its operative position, the front 52 and the back 53 help to support the front tray, should the latter fail to engage the flange 35, while the space between the said front 52 and back 53 serves as a receptacle for objects such as the paper stops shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9, and 11, which may be kept there when they are not in use. The space 55 shown in Fig. 1, lying between the portions 28 and 52, is adapted to serve as a storage compartment for envelopes and the like.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, this is a detail view of one side of therearward portion of the front base member 29. This member 20 is provided, .rearwardly of the bosses 49, with a transverse ridge 5B. This ridge is intended to holdthe rear edge of the first or forward tray, so that it will not slide backward along the base even when the front is disengaged. The base 29 is extended rearwardly of said ridge 51; for a short distance, as shown at5l; which extension is' provided with upturned flanges 58 standing in the same vertical planes with the flanges 2!. In manufacturing the device, the rear portion, 51 is bent downwardly at an angle from the main'portion 23, in order to facilitate the insertion of the sliding member described in the preceding paragraph; and after the device is completely assembled the portion 5'! and the main portion 25 lie in the same plane but constantly tend to assume the position in Fig. 5. Since'the flanges 58 engage the hooks 24 on the flanges 23 of the rear base member 22, as do also the flanges 25, the flanges 58 now operate to increase the sliding friction between the front and rear base members 20 and 22, and to prevent accidental alteration in the length of the base after it has been adjusted.

The trays which are shown detachably mounted on the base in Fig. 1 are of three general types. The front or lower tray, shown at the right of Fig. l and in a plan view in Fig. 6, is provided with slots but no lugs. The intermediate trays, which are shown at the center of Fig. 1, and one of which is shown in a bottom perspective view in Fig. 11, are provided with both slots and lugs. The rearor upper tray, shown at the left of Fig. 1 and in a top perspective view in Fig. 12, is provided with lugs but no slots. In these Figs. 6 and 11 I have shown the front tray adapted to be used to contain envelopes, and the intermediate trays adapted to contain writing paper; but there is no essential connection between the position of the tray and the particular use to which it is put.

While I prefer to provide the slot which is illustrated in the drawings and mentioned above, it will be obvious that anotch open at the outer edge, or other projection-engaging means, would operate and could be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the front tray comprises a bottom 59, sides 60 extending vertically upward therefrom, horizontal flanges 61 extending outwardly from the tops of said sides 69, and a back 62 extending upwardly and forwardly from the rear of the bottom 59. This upwardly and forwardly extending back is provided on all the trays, with the exception of the one used for carbon paper; and serves the purpose, when they tray is filled with stationery, of thrusting the top of the pile forward so that individual sheets or envelopes are readilygrasped. The front of the tray comprises a hollow $3, a ridge B5, and a downwardly projecting flange es. This front is so constructed as to provide a lead whereby same may be easily and quickly lowered over the flange 30 on the front of the base, which then supports the front of the tray as Shown in Fig. 1. The hollow 63 may also be used as ,a tray for pens, pencils and the like. The flanges (ii are provided with slots 65 adapted to receive the lugs on the first intermediate tray, to be hereinafter described; and the ends of each slot 66 are provided with grooves 6'1, whereby the lug is easilyguided into the slot when the intermediate tray is lowered into place.

The bottom of the tray 59 is provided with a double longitudinal row of perforations 68 adapted to be engaged by" the adjustable paper stops or false backs, two of which are shown in placein Fig. 6, and which are shown separately and in detail in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.. Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of my short and long forms of paper-stop respectively, and Fig. 10 is an end view ofeither form. The paper stop which I have shown comprises a base plate 10. adapted to .rest flatly against the bottom of a.

tray; a false back H extending upwardly and forwardly from said base plate, and adapted to serve the same function as theback 62 when the tray is used for short envelopes or paper;

and either one or two clips 73 adapted to pass downward through perforations 68. The end of each clip i3is raised'as shown at 14, so that when the clip is passed downward through one of the perforations 58, the end 14 will snap into the next lower or next rearward perforation. In case the clip is engaged with the rearmost perforation the end 14 will snap over the rear of the tray. The front tray in Fig. 6 is shown provided with two short form stops, in order that it may contain two sizes of envelope, while.

the intermediate tray in Fig. 11 is shown provided with asinglelong form stop in order that it may contain a supply of short paper. All the stops, however, are interchangeable throughout, and any stop:may be inserted in any perforation or pair of perforations. passes entirely through the .bottom. of the tray it is impossible for paper. or envelopes to slide down between the plate 10 and the bottom of the tray.

Referring now to Fig. 11, each of the intermediate trays comprises a bottom I5, sides 16, horizontal flanges IT, a back 58,. slots'iQ, grooves 80, and perforations 8!, all similar to the correspondingly named parts of the tray shown in Fig. 6, and'serving the same purposes. Since all this part of the tray, including the flanges.

ill, is cut and stamped out of a sheet .of:metal, the under sides of the grooves 88 will show in Fig. 11 as elevations.

The front tray shown in Fig. 6 is not provided with any supporting lugs, since it rests instead on the top of the member 39. Each of theintermediate trays, however, is provided with a pair of lugs 82 extendingdownwardiy from the front corners thereof, and the lugs of each tray are adapted to engage with the slots, 66 or 19 as the case may be, of the next lower or next forward tray, whereby each of the intermediate trays rests removably upon, a lower tray extending somewhat forwardly therefrom. The lugs which I have shown are integral with a plate 83, which plate is provided with a longitudinal strengthening rib 34 and is riveted to the tray bottom fiat 85. This construction permits the lugs to be formed from heavierv metal than is necessary in the tray proper, thus providing greater strength where same is'most required.

The corners. of the plate 83 are cut back at 8%.- The edging 8? of .the tray bottom 15 may be'closed first at the ends 88, the plate 33 may then be inserted under the central portion of the edging, which may then be tightened. However, these lugs ii may also be secured in any other suitable manner.

If desired, for instance, instead of employing As the clip.

the plate 83, thefront of the'tray may beam-:75;

inforced by merely widening the edging 81, and integral lateral extensions of the inturned front edge thus formed may be bent downwardly to form lugs equivalent to the lugs 82.

Referring now to Fig. 12, the rear tray here shown is provided with a bottom 89, sides 90 and lugs 9|, all similar to the correspondingly named parts shown in Fig. 11, and serving the same purposes. This being the rear tray, however, I do not provide any flanges similar to El or 11, as no slots are required. In this embodiment of the invention the rear tray is employed for carbon paper, since carbon paper, because of its thinness, is more easily laid in an open tray than slid into a covered one. The back 92 is therefore perpendicular to the bottom of the tray, and not forwardly inclined as in the other trays. I also provide a secondary tray adapted to rest loosely inside the primary tray, and having a bottom 93, sides 94, and a perpendicular back 95. A plate 96 is adapted to rest loosely inside the secondary tray.

In operation, the primary tray contains slightly used carbon paper, which may have been required in making a multiplicity of carbon copies, and is now held in reserve until required for this or for the ordinary use. Such carbon paper is shown in the primary tray at 91, in Fig. 12, where it is held smoothly and kept in good condition by the bottom 93 of the secondary tray. This secondary tray is used to hold the carbon sheets which are in active use, and which are shown in Fig. 12 at 98. These sheets 98 may be held smoothly and kept in good condition by the weight of a plate 96.

Both the primary and secondary tray (like the other stationery trays) are completely open at the forward end as shown in Fig. 12, in order that the top sheet of carbon paper may be easily slid forward from the tray by the fingers, instead of having to be lifted out as would otherwise be the case. It will also be seen that the front of the secondary tray projects forward beyond the front of the primary tray in order that it may be readily grasped for removal.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that every part of each tray is readily accessible by disengaging the trays above, and lifting up their front ends, and that whenever desired any tray may be removed and easily replaced. The relative positions of the intermediate trays with their contents may therefore be rearranged at any time, other intermediate trays may be substituted for any of those in place, superfluous intermediate trays may be removed, or new intermediate trays added. The insertion, removal or readjustment of a paper stop in any tray is a simple matter. Also a new front or rear tray may be substituted at any time for the one in use.

It should therefore now be seen that all the different elements and parts of my invention cooperate and coordinate to provide'means for containing various kinds of stationery and office supplies such as are commonly used in connection with each other, for holding the same compactly and efficiently, for keeping the same in good condition, and for keeping the same readily accessible. Other advantages of the invention will be obvious from what has been said above with regard to its construction and operation.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction set forth in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refer to and set forth only certain embodiments of the invention, and it is obvious that the same may be modified, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a second base member slidably attached thereto; and a plurality of removable trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, whereby when the front of one tray is raised, said tray and all rearward trays will remain in engagement.

2. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a second base member slidably attached thereto, a portion flexibly extending from one of said base members and adapted to bear resiliently against a portion of the other base member and hold said base members in operative relation with each other; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

3. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a second base member slidably attached thereto, a transverse ridge on one of said base members adapted to limit the rearward movement of a tray; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

4. A collapsible container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a compartment member projecting upwardly therefrom and slidably attached thereto; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to engage the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, said compartment member being adapted when said container is collapsed to lie separate from said trays and when said container is assembled to form a plurality of compartments under said trays.

5. A collapsible container for stationery. and the like comprising in combination a base member, a compartment member projecting upwardly therefrom and slidably attached thereto, and means adpated to hold said sliding member stationary; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to engage the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other; said compartment'member being adapted when said container is collapsed to lie separate from said trays and when said container is assembled to form a plurality of compartments under said trays.

6. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a com- 75:

downwardly extending projections partment member projecting upwardly therefrom and slidably attached thereto and adapted when in operative position to support a tray and form compartments thereunder; and a plurality of inclined trays, said trays being provided with and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to engage the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

7 A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, two projections of unequal height extending upwardly therefrom and slidably attached thereto, said projections being adapted when in operative position to support a tray in an inclined position and form a compartment; and a plurality of inclined trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

- 8. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a front member extending upwardly from said base member, a rearwardly extending portion on said front member adapted to create a space between said front member and the front of a tray; and

a plurality of inclined trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging members, the projection-engaging members of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

9. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a second base member slidably attached thereto and provided with a rear portion extending upwardly and forwardly from said second base member whereby a compartment may be formed when the container is inserted in a drawer and whereby the rearward and upward movement of a tray may be limited; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

10. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, and a plurality of removable trays provided with downwardly extending projections and with outwardly extending projections having sockets; the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the downward projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, whereby when the front of one tray is raised, all rearward trays will remain in engagement.

11. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, and a plurality of removable trays provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets having depressions adjacent thereto adapted to guide projections into said sockets; the sockets of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, whereby when the front of one tray is raised, said tray and all rearward trays will remain in engagement.

12. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a front member extending upwardly from said base member, a rearwardly extending portion on said front member; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging members, the a projection-engaging members of one of said trays .being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, and one of said trays being adapted to removably engage with said rearwardly extending portion.

v13. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a

front member extending upwardly from said base member, a rearwardly extending portion on said front member; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging members, the projection-engaging members of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, one of said trays being shorter than the others and being adapted to engage with said rearwardly extending portion.

14. In a container for stationery and the like, the combination with a tray, provided with a plurality of perforations; of a paper stop provided with a member adapted to pass through one of said perforations and stop is adjustably and rigidly secured to said tray.

15. In a container for stationery and the like, the combination witlra tray provided with a plurality of perforations, spaced equally from the rear of said tray and from each other, of a paper stop provided with a member adapted when in one position to pass through one of said perforations and engage with a second rearward perforation and when in another position to pass through the rearmost perforation and engage with the rear end of said tray.

16. A container for stationery and the like comprising a base member, a plurality of removable trays, said trays being provided with sockets, and said trays being also provided with transverse stiffening members rigidly secured to their under sides adjacent their front ends, the

ends. of said stiffening members being down-,

.remain :in..engagement.

17. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a removable top tray provided with downwardly extending projections, a removable intermediate tray provided with downwardly extending projections and with sockets, and a removable bottom tray provided with sockets, the sockets of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of superjacent trays and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, whereby when the front of one tray is raised, said tray and all rearward trays will remain in engagement; the front and rear ends of said bottom tray and the rear ends of said intermediate and top trays being supported by said base member.

18. An expansible container for stationery and the like adapted to occupy a desk drawer comprising in combination a base member, a front engage with a second rearward perforation, whereby said paper member extending upwardly from said base member, a rearwardly extending portion on said base member adapted to create a space between said front member and the front of a tray, a forwardly extending member detachably secured to said front member and adapted to create a space between said front member and the front of a drawer, said detachable member being provided with a lower compensating projection extending forwardly a distance approximately equal with the floor of the said forwardly extending detachable member, and a plurality of removable trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging members, the projection-engaging members of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent trayand thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

19. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a front member extending upwardly from said base member, the upper portion of said front member being rearwardly inclined, said rearwardly inclined member being provided with a slot adapted to form a receptacle.

20. An expansible container for stationery and the like adapted to occupy a desk drawer comprising in combination a base member, a front member extending upwardly from said base member, a rearwardly extending portion on said base member adapted to create a space between said front member and the front of a tray, a forwardly extending member detachably secured to said front member and adapted to create a space between said front member and the front of a drawer, and a plurality of removable trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging members, the projection-engaging members of one of said trays being adapted to receive the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other.

21. In a container for stationery and the like a front supporting member having a member rearwardly projecting from its front wall, and a member attachable to said front supporting member and extending forwardly therefrom, said forwardly projecting member being provided with a front upright portion and being adapted together with said rearwardly projecting member to form a tray.

22. A collapsible container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a compartment member projecting upwardly therefrom and slidably attached thereto; and a plurality of trays, said trays being provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging members, the projection-engaging members of one of said trays being adapted to engage the projections of another superjacent tray and thereby removably engage the trays with each other; said compartment member being adapted when said container is collapsed to lie separate from said trays and when said container is assembled to form a plurality of compartments under said trays.

23. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, and a plurality of removable trays provided with downwardly extending projections and with outwardly extending projections having openings adapted to receive the downward projections of another superjacent tray and limit the longitudinal movement of said downward projections and thereby removably engage the trays with each other, whereby when the front of one tray is raised, said tray and all rearward trays will remain in engagement.

24. A container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member, a

removable top tray provided with downwardly extending projections, a removable intermediate tray provided with downwardly extending projections and with projection-engaging means, and a removable bottom tray provided with projection-engaging means, the projection-engaging means of said trays comprising openings adapted to receive the projections of superjacent trays and limit the longitudinal movement of said projections and thereby removably engage the trays i with each other, whereby when the front of one tray is raised, said tray and all rearward trays will remain in engagement; the front and rear ends of said bottom tray and the rear ends of said intermediate and top trays being supported by said base member.

25. A collapsible container for stationery and the like comprising in combination a base member provided with upturned side flanges, a second base member slidably attached thereto and provided with upturned side flanges having overturned edges adapted to engage the flanges on said first base member, a variable number of removable trays, and engaging members adjacent the front portions of each of said trays whereby the front portion of each of said trays is removably engaged With the front portion of an adjoining tray and removable therefrom by raising the engaged end, and whereby also when the front of one tray is raised, said tray and all rearward trays will remain in engagement.

JOHN H. I-IOTSON. 

